Avoca Summer Classic: Mission accomplished, Frankie

Last Wednesday April 11th would have been my friend Frankie Rundell’s 42nd birthday.

Frankie was taken from us on December 27th 2001 following an automobile accident while driving home from a bowling league in Hornell.

Even though it’s been 11 years since he passed away not a day goes by where I don’t think about him in some way shape or form.

Frankie and I were the same in many ways however we were also quite different.

The common bond that stood out the most between us was our Love for the game of basketball.

Even though we were 10 years apart age wise we both loved to play and watch basketball and when we spent time together 90% of the time there was basketball involved.

Frankie was a starter on the Avoca team that made it all the way to the NYSPHSAA State Final Four in 1988 before losing in the Semi-Finals. Frankie’s love for the game didn’t end after high school he continued playing on a regular basis after graduation and in most people’s eyes got much better after his high school playing days had passed.

We began playing basketball together at the local park in Avoca  a few years before he passed away. We also watched a lot of basketball together on TV and right up until he passed away we had attended several high school games. Frankie was a “Coach” in the stands and would often give very colorful “Play-by-Play” in my ear during the games.
 
One significant thing happened to me while attending a game in Avoca about 3 weeks before Frankie left us.

While at a Varsity contest in Avoca with Frankie, we were leaving and I ran into a friend of mine who had just been hired to coach the Modified boys basketball team at Avoca, he asked me if I would be interested in becoming his assistant coach.

I had always dreamed about coaching basketball and this was the opportunity I’d been waiting for. I immediately accepted the offer and we walked away. Frankie instantly started picking on me as he often did: “What do you know about basketball?” “I think he asked the wrong guy to help him, what are you going to help him do? Babysit?”

It was all in good fun and I expected it.

Unfortunately he passed away before the season even started and I was never able to share stories or bring him in to help. Two years later I was hired as the Head Modified Coach at Avoca, the only thing missing was my assistant Coach.
 
That August the Inaugural Frankie Rundell Memorial 3-on-3 Tournament was held in the Parking Lot at Avoca Central School.

I’d tossed around idea after idea on how I could honor my friend, and I found the perfect way to do it. Frankie and I both loved the game of basketball so what better way to honor his memory and raise money in the process and to do it with the game basketball, that’s just icing on the cake.

I was told I couldn’t do it, I was told it wouldn’t work in Avoca. I didn’t listen to the naysayers I simply used their words for motivation. The 2nd year of the tournament we broke the record for number of teams for tournaments that the company out of Rochester had held. I’m glad I didn’t listen to the naysayers — I’ve been able to accomplish so much for kids in the area through this basketball tournament. Including one of my favorite things, re-doing the basketball court where Frankie and I played basketball and naming it “Frankie Rundell Memorial court”  I’m glad I didn’t listen …
 
On August 4th this summer we will hold the 11th Annual Avoca Summer Classic 3-on-3 basketball tournament in memory of Frankie Rundell.

It’s very hard to believe that we’ve done 10 tournaments already. There are now thousands of T-Shirts around New York State that say “In Memory of Frankie Rundell”, every time I  see one It instantly puts a smile on my face.

My goal was to honor my friend and keep his memory alive.

Mission Accomplished.

 http://www.avocasummerclassic.com
 

Saginaw High School earns ‘Highest Rookie Seed’ award in FIRST Robotics … – The Saginaw News

FLINT — In its inaugural season as a team in the FIRST Robotics ranks, Saginaw High School is already showing that it can hang with the traditional powers.

Saginaw High earned the “Highest Rookie Seed” award at its first FIRST Robotics event Friday and Saturday at Kettering University.

The team finished participated in 12 basketball matches at Kettering, finishing with a 7-4-0 record, also being disqualified once. They finished 18th out of 39 teams participating.

Saginaw High is being mentored this season by Team 703 Phoenix, which is the only other FIRST Robotics team from Saginaw.

Team 703 Phoenix finished 2-8-2 on its weekend. Both Saginaw High and Team 703 Phoenix will have another opportunity to participate in another district match this year. Team 703 is participating March 23-24 in the Northville district and Saginaw High March 30-31 in the Troy district.

Brittney Lohmiller | The Saginaw NewsSaginaw High students and coaches work in February to complete their team robot in preparation for two of the six FIRST Robotics events in Michigan. Saginaw High School finished in the top half of teams Friday and Saturday at Kettering University, also earning an award as “Highest Rookie Seed.”For Saginaw High, even in its first season, participating in the competition went far beyond building a robot. For some of the high school students involved with the team, it was as basic as using tools.

“It went from nil to remarkable,” Saginaw High Spanish and technology teacher Robert Espinoza said. “We had a team member,
who said, ‘I drilled a hole.’ She used a table saw the other day. It’s
extremely new (to them). We have people who haven’t been exposed to it.”

Each robotics team designs a robot to participate in a game of 3-on-3
basketball. The teams must conform their robot inside certain weight,
height, size and monetary restrictions.

This year, teams will
play on a proverbial “court” during competition. There are three hoops
at each end for the robots to “shoot” at and the robots also must go
over obstacles to get to the hoops. For the finale of each game, teams
must try to get their robot to balance on a bridge obstacle, along and
then with their teammate robots.

March Madness 3-on-3 Basketball Classic set

The March Madness, 3-on-3 basketball classic is set to be held on March 31, at the Wellsboro High School Gym with check-in at 9 a.m. and game play beginning at 10 a.m.

Advance registration is $40 per team of four players, along with registration after March 28, the walk-in registrationb will be $50 per team.

Girls’ and boys’ divisions are as follows: (current grade) fifth and sixth, seventh and eighth, ninth and 10th, 11th and 12th; along with there is also an Adult Open division for both males and females.

For more information, call Wellsboro Parks and Recreation at 724-0300. Registration forms are available at www.wellsbororecreation.org.

Register now for Men’s 3 on 3 Basketball league [1:19 pm]

FARMINGTON — Are you a basketball player looking for new and fun ways to participate in basketball? Grab some friends and sign up for the Men’s 3 on 3 Basketball League sponsored by the Farmington Recreation Center.

Registration ends Jan. 11. Play begins Jan. 18. 

The league will include a 15 game regular season followed by a double elimination tournament. The cost is $150 per team with a 16 team maximum. 

Register online at www.fmtn.org/prca or at the Farmington Recreation Center, 1101 Fairgrounds Road in Farmington.

For additional information, 505-599-1184.

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